South King Fire and Rescue Chief Al Church has been named Public Employee of the Year by the Municipal League of King County.

The chief took home the award on March 25.

Church currently holds the position as chairman of the South King County Fire Chiefs Committee, and he represents the King County Fire Chiefs on a number of sub-committees throughout the region. He also represents King County on the Washington State Urban Search and Rescue Policy Board. Church is also a leader across the state. He is the current vice president of the Washington Fire Chiefs Board of Directors and is the chair of the Washington Chief’s Legislative Committee, working on a several items that focus on keeping people and firefighters safe.

A firefighter for 32 years, 30 of those in Federal Way, Church has been chief for eight years.

“I’m honored to have been considered for this award,” Church said in a press release. “This truly is a reflection of my entire administrative team, our elected Board of Fire Commissioners and our entire fire department. They are an incredible group of people to work with every day and it is through their support and efforts that any kind of recognition like this would even be possible. I sincerely want to thank them for all their hard work…as well as my wife of almost 30 years for all her support when I come home late, work on weekends, or am away from home on fire related business. I am incredibly fortunate to have such great support at work as well as at home. They all should receive this award instead of me, as they have all earned a part of it.”